Page 40 - Jewish News_January-2021

40A January 2021 COMMENTARY

How will a new U.S. administration affect the Middle East? A new look at Iran

By Harold M. Halpern
very Sunday, for the past several On July 14, 2015, the United States, Israel as having arranged the killing to contain negative action by Turkey,
months, I have a Zoom confer- together with the other four permanent with United States knowledge. Russia and China in the area.
Eence with my maternal cousins members of the United Nations Secu- An article in The New York Times I conclude with a few words about
from around the world. Cousins from rity Council and Germany, reached a on November 29, 2020, was headlined President-elect Biden’s policy vis-à-vis
Argentina, Spain, France, Switzerland, nuclear development limitation agree- “Scientist’s Assassination Threatens Israel and the Palestinians.
Germany and Israel typically join in ment, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Fate of Iran Nuclear Deal.” Underly- The United States, in all likelihood,
with their American and Canadian Action (JCPOA), with Iran. The agree- ing this headline is an assumption that will reopen a consulate in Jerusalem to
cousins. ment, endorsed by the UN Security Iran, but for the assassination, would deal with Palestinian matters, permit
For a number of months, our elec- Council on July 20, 2015, restricted have been willing to negotiate a new, the Palestinian Authority to have an of-
tions dominated Iran from developing nuclear weapons stronger agreement. There is no basis fice in Washington, D.C., and reinstate
the conversation. for a limited fixed period of time, sub- for this conjecture. some humanitarian aid for the Palestin-
I was amazed ject to independent verification in re- Contrary to the speculation of ians.
how knowledge- turn for releasing all sanctions. The New York Times, the Iranian For- President-elect Biden expressed
able they all were The JCPOA was opposed by Isra- eign Minister publicly stated that Iran approval of the normalization agree-
with our electoral el, Saudi Arabia and many Jewish or- would only return to compliance with ments between Israel, the United Arab
process and the ganizations, as well as many members JCPOA if the United States uncondi- Emirates and Bahrain, and will facil-
issues of the cam- of Congress who argued that it was tionally returned to compliance and itate similar agreements with other
paign. inadequate in protection and provided paid for damages caused by its sanc- Muslim countries. All the same, he will
Harold M. Halpern We explored no restraint on Iran’s support of terror- tions. The assassination, may in the not give a free pass to Saudi Arabia but
the likely effect that a President Joseph ism proxies or limitation on ballistic long run, enhance, rather than threaten, will pressure it to adopt human rights
Biden administration will have on missiles. To the contrary, the release of a nuclear deal. measures in return for continued mili-
United States policy, particularly with sanctions strengthened Iran’s econom- The President-elect is fully aware tary support.
regard to Israel and the Middle East. ic ability to foment hostile actions. that the JCPOA agreement failed to re- The consensus is that a Biden ad-
We all understand that Iran is an On May 8, 2018, President Don- strain Iran’s disruptive actions. Close ministration will not undo the United
existential threat to Israel and to the ald Trump announced the withdrawal supporters of the President-elect have States recognition of Jerusalem and the
Sunni Arab Gulf States. It calls for of the United States from the JCPOA. publicly stated that Biden wants an Golan Heights as part of Israel.
the destruction of Israel. It supports In November 2018, the United States amended agreement of greater length The administration will not pursue
the terrorist proxy Hezbollah, which sanctions came back into effect for the and one which restrains Iran in missile the Trump Peace Plan and will strong-
daily threatens Israel’s border in the express purpose of changing Iran’s pol- development and support of terrorists. ly oppose all actions of Israel and the
north from Lebanon and Syria, and icies, including its support for terrorists Sanctions will likely remain in place Palestinians which make a permanent
the terrorist Hamas on Israel’s south- in the Middle East and its development until Iran realizes that its own well-be- agreement more difficult. Both parties
ern border. Saudi Arabia’s stability is of ballistic missiles. ing requires it to negotiate a change to will be encouraged to take small coop-
endangered by Iran’s support of the During his campaign, the Pres- its policies. erative steps to create an atmosphere
Houthi terrorists in Yemen. ident-elect promised to return the The assassination makes clear that for future negotiations recognizing that
For years, Iran took steps to de- United States to the JCPOA with Israel, with the backing of Saudi Ara- the chasm between Israel and the Pal-
velop a nuclear capacity. The United Iran. On November 27, 2020, Mohsen bia and the Arab Gulf States, will take estinians is now too wide to bridge.
States and Europe imposed damag- Fakhrizadeh, the scientific leader of whatever action is necessary to prevent President-elect Biden is known as
ing economic sanctions on Iran which Iran’s nuclear development program, Iran from developing nuclear capabili- a compassionate person. May he be
brought it to the negotiating table. was assassinated. All fingers point to ty. Iran may retaliate. Israel surely has granted the wisdom required to suc-
taken that into account in making its cessfully navigate the domestic and in-
cost-benefit analysis. It is also taking ternational problems as our President.
Robert and Esther Heller all protective measures against all Ira- Harold Halpern is a retired attorney
nian reaction.
residing in Lakewood Ranch. He is a
CRC propriate public policy is beyond the board member of the American Asso-
Whether assassination is an ap-
onnect
onnect
ciation of Retired Lawyers and Jurists,
scope of this column.
the American Jewish Committee. He is
Iran is not the only destabilizer and the West Coast Florida Chapter of
in the Middle East. A Biden adminis- also a correspondent for the Sarasota
Have you ever been asked tration will need to develop a policy Herald-Tribune.

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